Apparatus and method for regulating the temperature of superheated steam



March 30, 1926. I 1,578,313

' K. HENCKY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OFSUPERHEATED STEAM Filed Nov. '7, 1924 Patented Mar. 30, 1926.;

UNITED STATES 1,578,313 PATENT. OFFICE.

KARL HENCKY Oi LEVERKUSEN NEAR COLOGNE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO-FA BIBEN-FABRIKEN VORMQIBIEDR. BAYER AND (30., IN LEVERKUSEN, NEAR COLOGNE,

GERMANY.

arranarus AND rm'rnon m. nnonnarmo THE TEMPERATURE or surnann'a'rnnsrmrr.

Application filed November 7, 1924. Serial No. 743,499.

To all whom it may cmwem:

Be it known that I KARL I citizenof Germany, residing at Leverkusen,

many, have invented new'and useful Imrovements-in Apparatus andMethodsfor egulating the Temperature of Superheated Steam, of which thefollowing 1s a spec fication. a

This invention relates to the regulation of the temperature ofsuperheated steam by the injection of water theremto. ThlS method ashitherto employedhas the defects that a considerable quantity 'of waterhas been injected but only a small portion of this water has beenevaporated, and that the transference of heat between thesteam and thewater is imperfect and consequently the temperature to which thesuperheated steam is reduced is irregular and the steam contains finearticles of water. Moreover, a large space 1s required for the heattransference as a direct result ofthe unfavourable conditions.

According to this invention the temperature of superheated steam isregulated by i the formation of a thin film of water of extended areaand by causing the steam to pass over or through this film at a highvelocity. Preferably the water 1s sprayed on to a number of balls or thelike contained in a conduit through which the steam tpasses, so that athin film of large area is ormed upon these balls or the like and thatthe restriction of the conduit due to the presence of the balls or thelike causes the steam to pass them at a high velocity.

The invention is H ustrated by the accompanying drawing. A is a sectionof a conduit into which superheated steam can be delivered at B and fromwhich it can be withdrawn at C. In the conduit are supported perforatedplates D, D on which are piled metal balls E. WVater can be sprayed intothe conduit above the upper layer of balls by a pipe F. G is a cock bywhich any water which may condense at the bottom of the conduit can bedrawn off at starting. The conduit section A is preferably arranged withits axis substantially vertical, and the inlet B and outlet Cextend-laterally from the top and bottom, reqvectively HENCKY, a

regulating1 the quantity of water delivered.

of the conduit, thus permitting the location of the water spray pipe Fand the drain outlet G on the axis of the conduit section. nearCologne,. in the State of Pruss1a,Ger

It has been found that with such anarrangementthe temperature andquality of thefsuperheated steam issuing from O are through t e pipe Fin any-suitable manner. Under normal operating conditions the quantityof water required is'never in excess of the amount which may bevaporized by] the steam as it passes downwardly through the bafile withthe extended film of water. By thus passing the steam and water in thesame direction over'a path of sufiicient length to ensure theevaporation of the water, particles of water are not entrained in theexit steam and anexceedingly accurate control of the temperature ispossible.

I claim:

1. A method of ture of superheated steam w ich consists in regulatin thetempera-' passing steam downwardly at high velocity over adownwardly-flowing thin film of water of extended area.

2. A method of regulatin the temperature of superheated steam w ichconsists i1 passing the steam at high velocity downwardly through 'amass of small particles upon which water is sprayed.

3. Apparatus for regulating the temperature of superheated steam,comprising, in combination with a conduit for superheated steam, a;baflie extending across said conduit and having tortuous passagestherothrough, and means for spraying water upon said bafiie, thecombined area of the tortuous passages being materially smaller than thecr'oss section of the conduit, whereby the velocity of. the superheatedsteam is materially increased as passes through the wetted baffle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said baflle comprises a massof heat resistant bodies arranged with interstices therebetween. 1,

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said conduit issubstantially vertical and said battle comprises a reticulated plateextending across said conduit and a a laterally extending inlet andalaterally mass of small metal bodies on said plate. extending outlet atthetop and bottom, re- 1 6. Apparatus for regulating the temperajspectively of said conduit section, andmeans ture of superheated steamcomprising a seccoaxial Wlth said conduit section for spray- 5 tion ofconduit arranged with the .axis' in water upon said mass of smallbodies.

thereof in substantially vertical position, a testimony whereof I.h'avehereunto set' reticulated plate extending across said conmy hand; aduit, a mass of small bodies upon said plate, 3 KARL HENCKY.

